Tickets available for tonight’s Chamber of Commerce banquetIt’s time for the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce to once again celebrate our extraordinary business community. As one of the Chamber’s most popular events, the Annual Membership Celebration and Banquet will attract over 300 of the area’s top business and community leaders. The Annual Membership Celebration and Banquet brings together the leadership and membership of the Russellville Area Chamber to celebrate the accomplishments of the p...

Arkansas panel rejects removing Lee from King holidayLITTLE ROCK (AP) — A bid to end Arkansas' practice of commemorating Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee and civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. on the same day was rejected by lawmakers Wednesday after opponents said the move would belittle Southern heritage. The proposal would have removed Lee from the state holiday honoring King. Arkansas is one of three states to jointly celebrate the two on the third Monday in January. The House State Agen...

River Valley United Way announces fundingThe River Valley United Way announced its program funding for Fiscal Year 2015. The investment decisions were made following months of hard work by the dedicated volunteer members of its Community Investment Committee. River Valley United Way will invest more than $260,000 in programs that meet basic and emergency needs, as well as programs that offer people a step up in their quality of life. Funding begins in March. “This was a tough fundrai...

Bazzel strengthens ties in DardanelleDARDANELLE — Community, strength and roots ran deep at the Dardanelle Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet Monday at the community center. Guest speaker David Bazzel engaged community members in how to strengthen the city's bond. "Don't tell me why you can't do it; tell me how you are going to get it done," Bazzel said. "You are a key to making Arkansas what it is. What you can do every day is make Dardanelle be the best it can be." Although a Flo...

Sheriff's office promotes twoThe Pope County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday the promotions of two deputies. Jim Lean was promoted to patrol lieutenant, and Jamie Gray was promoted to patrol sergeant. Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said he was proud of the pair. "It's an honor and a privilege to have Lt. Lean and Sgt. Gray be a part of the sheriff's department," he said. Lean has been with the department since 2002 and previously served as patrol sergeant. Gray joined...

Local students win statewide investment programArkansas River Valley students were recently honored with second-place awards for their work in a statewide investment and saving simulation program. Five students from Russellville Upper Elementary Fifth Grade (UE5G) and four students from S.C. Tucker Elementary School in Danville each won the second-place prize in their respective divisions in a 10-week session of the Stock Market Game Program. The students were awarded trophies and cash pri...

Skelton urges stricter adherence to rulesThe Russellville Planning Commission voted 5-3 to allow a non-standard commercial building addition to an existing building on West Parkway after a lengthy discussion, leading Commissioner Doug Skelton to express a need for stricter adherence to guidelines. "This is outrageous," Skelton said during Monday's meeting. "We should have some say in the front facade of the buildings, and if they don't want to meet what the requirements are, then the...

News Briefs (Jan. 28, 2015)Central Fire Station presentations The city of Russellville will host presentations by selected architectural firms for the new Central Fire Station during four sessions on Thursday at Russellville City Hall in the City Council Chambers. The list of firms and presentation times includes the Renaissance Group at 9 a.m., Hoefer Wysoki Architecture at 10:15, Jackson Brown Palculict Architects at 1 p.m. and Guest Reddick Architects at 2. For more ...

Train wreck leads to arrestThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) responded to a train versus vehicle accident Sunday morning, according to a Tuesday news release. Shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the 400 block of North Phoenix Avenue to find an unoccupied sports utility vehicle had been struck by a train. "When officers arrived, they determined the vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the accident," RPD Public Information Officer Drew Latch said. ...

Resources available for RSD parentsRussellville School District parents seeking ways to help their elementary children with homework now have an online resource. Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction Chris Barnes presented the elementary instruction website to board members, principals and parents during the recent school board meeting. The website is designed to help parents become more involved in their children’s literacy, math and science lessons and homework th...

Inaugural Search and Rescue Wars registration now openThe Yell County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will host the inaugural Search and Rescue Wars at 9 a.m. March 28 at the Yell County Fairgrounds in Danville. The event will challenge search and rescue teams through five events to test their skills in a competitive environment. Director Jeff Gilkey said search and rescue teams should view the event as a training competition. “We are looking to try and challenge these guys on what they’ve l...

Quiz Bowl places secondThe Russellville High School (RHS) Quiz Bowl team competed in the Benton Invitational Tournament earlier this month. The Cyclone varsity team finished 5-2 on the day, which was good enough for a second-place finish in the 20-team Upper Division bracket. In Game 1 of the seeding round, the Cyclones defeated North Little Rock 265-140. Game 2 was a back-and-forth battle between the Cyclones and defending state 3A champion Episcopal Collegiate (Li...

City to review animal shelter bidsThe city will review bids for a new building at the Russellville Animal Shelter on Feb. 17. The 1,224-square-foot building will be connected to the current shelter and is expected to include 10 additional dog kennels, a cat area and a quarantine area. The project will also include improvements to the current facility, which opened in April 1996. There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting at the site at 10 a.m. Feb. 4. Bids will be opened shortl...

News Briefs (Jan. 27, 2015)Central Fire Station presentations The City of Russellville will host presentations by selected architectural firms for the new Central Fire Station during four sessions on Thursday at Russellville City Hall in the City Council Chambers. The list of firms and presentation times includes the Renaissance Group at 9 a.m., Hoefer Wysoki Architecture at 10:15 a.m., Jackson Brown Palculict Architects at 1 p.m. and Guest Reddick Architects at 2 p.m. ...

Dover seeks theft suspectDOVER — The Dover Marshal's Office is asking for the public's continued help in identifying a man suspected of credit card theft. "We had a couple of potential leads we're following up on," Detective Todd Steffy said. "We still need to positively ID him." The man is suspected in the Jan. 10 theft of a credit card, which took place at Dollar General in Dover. The card was later used at a liquor store in Blackwell "by the individual who stole it...

HanesBrands to expand facility, create 120 new jobsCLARKSVILLE — HanesBrands recently announced the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Clarksville. The company plans to invest more than $1.4 million in building renovations and new equipment. As part of the expansion, the company plans to add 120 new jobs and bringing its total employment at the facility to 570 people. More than 85 percent of the plant’s current employees have at least 10 years of service with the company. HanesBrands’ ...

CASA training scheduled to start in FebruaryFifteen years ago, Judge Ken Coker Jr. brought Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to the Fifth Judicial District. Today, CASA of the Fifth Judicial District serves Pope, Johnson and Franklin counties with just three paid staff members — Executive Director Genney Baker and advocate coordinators Melissa Simpson and Cheryl Coleman. “The rest are volunteers,” Simpson said. CASA is a nonprofit organization and a United Way program. There are ...

City can spend funds, despite contract limboWhen you pay for your groceries, your gas, your appliances, your electronics, your clothes in Russellville, do you ever wonder where the city’s one-cent sales tax goes? When you look at all the construction and projects that will start or finish in the city of Russellville this year, do you wonder how portions of those projects are funded? The Courier sat down recently with Russellville Finance Director Jerry McKaughan to get some answers to b...